A sharp, cold sensation crept through Noah's body as consciousness slowly returned.
His vision blurred in and out, darkness clinging to the edges of his sight. His head throbbed, his thoughts heavy, like something was pressing down on his mind.
Then he felt it.
Cold.
Tight.
Unforgiving.
Chains.
Noah's eyes snapped open.
He was sitting on the ground in a dim, suffocating room. The air smelled of rust… damp stone… and something far worse.
Something rotten.
His wrists were bound in thick iron chains, digging into his skin every time he moved.
Panic shot through him.
,,Noah: Guys… guys wake up…!"
His voice was shaky, barely steady.
Around him, the others slowly began to stir.
Johann groaned first, lifting his head slightly before immediately wincing.
,,Johann: What the hell… what is this…?"
He tried to move.
The chains rattled loudly.
His expression froze.
,,Heinrich: Why are we chained?!"
Heinrich's voice cracked as he pulled against the restraints, panic rising fast.
,,Anna: Where's Barry?!"
Her voice echoed through the room, sharp and filled with fear.
Noah's heart sank.
Barry.
He quickly looked around.
And then he saw them.
On the other side of the room…
People.
Dozens of them.
Chained.
Some were barely moving.
Others…
Didn't move at all.
Lifeless bodies hung against the walls, their chains the only thing keeping them upright.
The room suddenly felt colder.
Heavier.
Like death itself lived here.
Noah swallowed hard and began pulling at his chains, desperation creeping in.
But they didn't budge.
Not even a little.
,,???: Forget it…"
A weak, broken voice came from the shadows.
,,???: None of us are getting out of here…"
The group turned toward the voice.
A man, thin, pale, his body covered in dirt and old wounds, looked at them with empty eyes.
,,Anna: Who are you?"
He let out a quiet, bitter breath.
,,Otto: My name is Otto…"
He lowered his head slightly.
,,Otto: And trust me… no one has ever escaped this place."
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Then Noah spoke again.
,,Noah: I'm Noah… that's Anna… Karoschi… Johann… and Heinrich."
He hesitated.
,,Noah: Can you tell us… why we're here?"
Otto's expression darkened.
Fear flickered in his eyes.
,,Otto: She brought you here…"
His voice dropped to a whisper.
,,Otto: She takes people… locks them up… plays with them…"
He swallowed.
,,Otto: And when she gets bored…"
His voice trembled.
,,Otto: She kills them."
A chill ran down everyone's spine.
,,Heinrich: Who is she…?"
Otto didn't answer immediately.
His eyes slowly widened.
Then
A sound.
Soft.
Distant.
A faint humming.
Otto's entire body tensed.
,,Otto: …No."
The humming grew louder.
Closer.
Closer.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Light.
Almost… playful.
,,Otto: No… no no no… she's coming…"
The humming suddenly stopped.
Silence.
Then
CREEEAK
The door slowly opened.
A thin beam of light cut through the darkness.
And then a voice.
Soft.
Cheerful.
Completely wrong.
,,???: Ohhh… look at that… you're already awake~"
A figure stepped inside.
She tilted her head slightly, as if observing something interesting.
Then she began to whistle.
A light, playful melody.
And suddenly
From every corner of the room…
They came.
Hell Beetles.
Dozens of them.
Crawling across the walls.
The floor.
The chains.
The bodies.
,,Johann: …Yeah… this is definitely not good."
The girl stepped closer.
She crouched down in front of them.
Hell Beetles crawled across her arms… her shoulders… even her dress.
And she didn't react at all.
As if it was normal.
As if they belonged there.
She smiled.
Bright.
Childlike.
Wrong.
,,???: Sooo… tell me… what are your names?"
No one answered.
No one moved.
They just stared.
At her.
At the beetles.
At the nightmare standing in front of them.
Her smile faded slightly.
Then came back.
Wider.
,,Lilithra: Okaaaay, then let's do it properly."
She placed a hand on her chest and giggled softly.
,,Lilithra: My name is Lilithra."
She leaned closer.
Her eyes gleaming with excitement.
,,Lilithra: Now you tell me yours."
Silence.
Her expression dropped.
Not angry.
Just… disappointed.
Like a child whose toy refused to work.
,,Lilithra: Ottooo… what are their names?"
Otto flinched violently.
,,Otto: Please… if they don't want to say it, just"
,,Lilithra: Mmmh…"
She tilted her head.
Thinking.
Then she smiled again.
,,Lilithra: Okay! Let's make this more… fun"
She grabbed Otto's hand.
He froze.
,,Otto: No… no please… please don't"
A small blade appeared in her other hand.
Quick.
Casual.
Like it meant nothing.
,,Otto: PLEASE!"
SLICE
The sound was wet.
Sharp.
Final.
Otto screamed.
A raw, broken scream that echoed through the entire room.
Blood dripped onto the floor.
Lilithra looked at the severed finger in her hand… curious.
Almost fascinated.
,,Lilithra: Huh… it really comes off that easily…"
She giggled.
Then looked back at Otto.
Still smiling.
,,Lilithra: Sooo… what are their names?"
Otto was shaking uncontrollably.
Tears streamed down his face.
,,Otto: H-he's Noah… th-that's Johann… sh-she's Anna… th-that's Heinrich… a-and… and him…"
He hesitated.
,,Otto: …Karoschi."
Lilithra froze.
Slowly…
Very slowly…
Her head turned toward Karoschi.
Her smile changed.
Not playful anymore.
Something darker.
,,Lilithra: Karoschi…"
She stood up.
Walked toward him.
Step by step.
,,Lilithra: The Karoschi?"
She crouched in front of him again, staring directly into his eyes.
,,Lilithra: You're one of us."
Karoschi didn't look away.
,,Karoschi: Not anymore."
Silence.
Then
A quiet laugh.
Soft.
But wrong.
,,Lilithra: Not anymore…?"
Her smile twitched.
,,Lilithra: Do you know what's wrong?"
She leaned closer.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
,,Lilithra: You."
Her smile widened again.
,,Lilithra: The strongest Karagnist… and you betrayed Karag?"
She giggled.
,,Lilithra: Don't worry…"
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
,,Lilithra: I'll make sure you last the longest."
Behind them, Otto cried out.
,,Otto: P-please… I told you everything… please just let me go…"
Lilithra slowly turned her head.
And laughed.
Bright.
Carefree.
Completely insane.
,,Lilithra: Awww… you really thought I'd let you go?"
She stood up and clapped her hands lightly.
,,Lilithra: That's adorable."
She whistled.
Sharp.
Commanding.
,,Lilithra: Dinner time, my babies"
The Hell Beetles instantly reacted.
They rushed toward Otto.
He screamed.
Begged.
Cried.
But no one could help him.
The beetles swarmed him.
Crawling over his body.
Under his skin.
Tearing.
Eating.
Slowly.
Painfully.
Lilithra watched.
Smiling.
Completely fascinated.
,,Lilithra: Make it last, okay?"
The screams echoed.
Then faded.
Then stopped.
Silence returned.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
She turned back to the group.
Cheerful again.
,,Lilithra: Now… for you five…"
She clasped her hands together excitedly.
,,Lilithra: I prepared something special!"
Her eyes sparkled.
,,Lilithra: I even invited a guest"
The beetles crawled beneath the group, lifting them effortlessly.
Carrying them.
Like objects.
Like toys.
,,Johann (whispering): She's already getting on my nerves…"
They were brought into a large hall.
An old dining room.
Dusty.
Broken.
Yet… prepared.
The beetles tied them to chairs.
Lilithra spun around happily.
,,Lilithra: Sit nicely we don't want to be rude when my guest arrives, right?"
The group exchanged glances.
Searching.
Thinking.
Desperate for a way out.
Noah clenched his fists.
,,Noah: What did you do with Barry? Where is he?!"
Lilithra blinked.
Confused.
,,Lilithra: Barry?"
She tilted her head.
Then suddenly smiled.
,,Lilithra: Ohhh! The stone one!"
She giggled.
,,Lilithra: Don't worry, I didn't take him. I didn't know he belonged to you."
Johann scoffed.
,,Johann: You know your constant talking is really annoying."
Silence.
Then
Lilithra slowly turned her head.
Her smile… didn't change.
But her eyes did.
,,Lilithra: Na na na… that's not very polite."
Her voice was still soft.
Still playful.
But something underneath it had shifted.
,,Lilithra: Maybe I should teach you some manners"
Before anything could happen
CREAK
A door opened.
Slowly.
Lilithra's face lit up instantly.
Pure excitement.
,,Lilithra: Oh! My guest is here!"
The group turned.
Staring at the entrance.
Waiting.
Fear tightening around their chests.
The door opened wider.
And someone stepped inside.